Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6888, William Gilreath, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
16.6.
Gibreath, William
S. 6888
Born in N.C.
Carded
CONTENTS

North Carolina 16.311-
William Gibreath Wilkes - in the State of N. Car. was a Pr: & Capt in the ----- command Captain ----- of the Regt command Col. Lincoln in the N. Carolina for 3 months private - 6 " Captain - increased -
inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina the rate of 30 Dollars ----- Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Decr 33. and John H. Lewis Williams - No: Repd -
arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 325- Pension allowance ending Nov 34 65-
$ 390
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M. Rice Clerk, Book E Vol. 5 Page 41
Let to Pension Agent - Decr 21, 1833. -
Rate of a bill n. ut on A.P.
of not by by lin
9 at to 8 1 5
R I

18587
William Gibreath Wilkes co N.C.
Admit as private 9 mo. $30
Set to William Nov 1/33
5.12. apil 30. '33 - P. 363
S. F. Patterson Wilkesboro N.C.

BRIEF in the case of  William Gibreath  of Wilkes co in the State of North Carolina  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Vol. Company 1779 6 Lieutenant Gen. Rutherford   1780 3 mos. Private Lincoln & Ashe   I then served as captain not specified Capt. Lenoir  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None named  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Wilkes co N.C.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional & living witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The seal not distinguishable 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. W. Bradford. Examining Clerk.

William Gilbreath
18387

This declarant further states by way of amendment to the foregoing declaration, that the reason he did not procure the evidence of a Clergyman is, that there is none residing in his neighborhood, nor any of his acquaintance within a convenient distance that he could procure —
Seventh Subscribed the day and year last above mentioned — before me
William Gileath
By S. Martin Jp
I Robert Martin Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes State of North Carolina, hereby certify that Benjamin S. Martin Esq. whose signature appears to the foregoing proceedings is, and was at the time of witnessing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, and that the signature appended thereto, purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed my seal of Office this 28 th day of May 1833.
R. Martin clk by B.W. Gaf Beck

State of North Carolina County of Wilkes      §      §
On this 30 th day of October — 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions now sitting, William Gilbreath a resident of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That he was born on the 28 th day of April 1753 in the County of Pate (now Warren) in the State of North Carolina, the record of which he has in his family Bible — That he continued to reside in the said County until he was twenty six years of age, when he removed to the County of Wilkes in the said State, where he has resided ever since — That in the month of October 1779 in the said County of Wilkes, he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in a company partly composed of volunteers and partly of drafted men, which was commanded by Captain John Robbins, and of which company this deponent was himself the Lieutenant — That about the first of November 1779 the company set out upon their march to join the army (the said Captain Robbins refusing or failing to march as required, the command of the company devolved upon this deponent) that they pursued their march direct to Purysburg on the north side of the Savannah River, in the State of South Carolina, where they joined the troops from North Carolina under Gen l Rutherford, who was stationed at that place in company with Gen l Lincoln of the Continental army who had at that place a detachment of the regular army under his command — Upon arriving at Head Quarters, To Wit: Purysburg aforesaid, the company

under charge of this deponent being without a Captain, Genl Rutherford conferred that appointment upon this deponent, and duly Commissioned him as such, (but which commission he has either lost or mislaid) which appointment he held until the expiration of his term of service - That after remaining some time at Puryesburg, the army under Genl Lincoln & Rutherford removed to Black Swamp, some distance above Puryesburg on the same side of the River where they were stationed until the term of service of this deponent expired, when he and his company were discharged and returned home which place this deponent reached about the last of April 1780 having served for six months - During the stay of this deponent at Puryesburg & Black Swamp, he was frequently detailed as a commander of sundry scouting parties which were ordered out for the purpose of reconnoitering the British Army which was stationed the principal part of the time on the opposite side of the river and were under the command of Col Prévost - During their stay at that place also Genl Ashe who had command of a portion of the North Carolina Militia detailed about 1500 men and crossed the river at Augusta and came down on the opposite side as far as Briar Creek where he was attacked by Col Prévost and totally defeated with considerable loss, both killed and wounded -
Not long after this deponent arrived at home he was called upon to go against the Tories, who at that time were very troublesome in the Western part of North Carolina - in this expedition he acted as a Captain, and was principally engaged in scouring the settlements where suspected persons were supposed to reside - He also served another short tour as a Lieutenant under Capt Wm Lenoir - (now Genl Lenoir) against the Tories, in which they were principally employed as above mentioned - He also volunteered his services as a private for a three months tour under Captain Jesse Walton, and set out upon their march for Newbern in North Carolina - and had

advanced as far as Salem in North Carolina a distance of about sixty miles, where they were stationed a short time, and where they received information that their services would not be wanting - upon which they returned, and after scouring the mountains for some time after the Tories, proceeded for home - In these three expeditions, this deponent believes he served as much as three months - though the precise length of each tour is not particularly recollected -
This deponent believes he never received any discharge from the service, and as before mentioned his commission which was the only documentary evidence he had of his service has been lost or mislaid, although he well recollects to have seen it within a few years past - He refers however to Alexander Gilreath Esq. and Mr. Elijah Pickett for proof of a portion of his services, - whose depositions are hereto annexed. He has continued to live in the County of Wilkes N.C. ever since the revolutionary war, and resides there at this time -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state -
Sworn to, & Subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
R. Martin C.M.C.C.
William Gilreath
State of North Carolina Wilkes County } ss.
On this 30 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of Wilkes County now sitting, Alexander Gilreath Esq. who being first duly sworn according to law deponeth and saith that he is well acquainted with William Gilreath who has subscribed to the foregoing declaration - and further that he was well acquainted with Capt. John Robbins who is mentioned in the said declaration, and that at the time the company commanded by the said Capt. Robbins was ordered to march to Purrysburg in South Carolina, he (Capt. Robbins) refused or failed to go; and that the command of the company devolved
He knows of no person living whose testimony he could procure to prove the remainder of his services, but refers to Col. W. P. Maugh & Capt. Benj. Parker, as persons to whom he is well known, and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution -

upon the said William Gilreath, who was the first lieutenant thereof, and who marched with the company as set forth in the said declaration; and after being absent about six months, the said William Gilreath with several others who had marched with him returned home, from all of whom he was informed that, upon the arrival of their company at Purrysburg, in So. Car., Genl. Rutherford appointed the said William Gilreath Captain of the company, and duly commissioned him as such; & further that he has borne the title of Captain ever since sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
R. Martin C. H. C. C.
Alex. Gilreath
On the day and year aforesaid personally appeared in Open Court before the Court aforesaid, Elijah Vickes who being first duly sworn according to law, deponeth and saith that he entered the service of the United States under Captain Micajah Davis a regular officer for the term of nine months, and marched about the first of November 1779 from Wilkes C. H. N.C. to Purrysburg in South Carolina - that at the time they set out, a call had been made from the militia of Wilkes County and a company raised partly by draft and partly by volunteers, which company was placed under the command of Captain John Robbins and Lieutenant William Gilreath - that at the time the company marched, Captain Robbins refused or failed to go, when the command devolved upon the said Lieutenant William Gilreath, who assumed it and took charge of the company and marched to Purrysburg in South Carolina, where Genl. Rutherford who had the command of the North Carolina troops at that place conferred the appointment of Captain upon the said William Gilreath; which appointment he held until his term of service for six months expired - & further that the six months term set forth and specified in the foregoing declaration of the said William Gilreath was

performed by him - in the capacity of Captain as aforesaid -
Sworn to & Subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
R. Martin C. W. C. C.
Elijah his Vickers mark
We W m P Waugh and Benjamin Parker residents of the County of Wilkes and State of North Carolina, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Gilbreath who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age - that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
R. Martin C. W. C. C.
W m P Waugh Benj Parker
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states - And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Alex r Gilbreath Esq r and Elijah Vickers who have subscribed and sworn to the preceding affidavits, and W m P Waugh & Benj Parker who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Wilkes, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit -
Thomas Bryan Chairman

I Robert Markham Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarters Sessions of the County of Wilkes, State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Gilreath for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office This 30 th day of October - 1832
R. Martin C.W.B.C.
State of North Carolina Wilkes County ss.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid. Capt William Gilreath, who, being duly sworn, deponeth & saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For Six Months, I served as a Captain - For Three Months I served as a Private. * for such service I claim a pension -
Sworn to & Subscribed this 28 th day of May 1833. before me.
Benj. S. Martin J.P.
William Gilreath
* During this three months service, this declarant performed two tours, one as a captain & the other as a lieutenant, but not being regularly commissioned as such, he relinquishes any claim to additional pay on that account.

In reply to your request of _____, received for a statement of the military history of William Gilreath , a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. S. L 6888.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Oct. 1779 6 mos. Capt. ✓ ✓ N.C.   Soon after various times amounting to 3 mos. Pri. Wm. Lenoir ✓   Jesse Walton. ✓  
Battles engaged in, _____ ✓ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wilkes Co., N.C. Date of application for pension, Oct. 30, 1832. His cl. was al Residence at date of application, Wilkes Co., N.C. Age at date of application, B. Apr. 28, 1753 { Bute Co., afterwards called Warren Co., N.C.
Remarks: _____  A son, William H., was a resident of Wilkes Co., N.C. in 1833.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

1912. Dec. 5: History to Mrs. W. H. Yeandle. Ex. See Cl. S. 21991 James Southerland, for letter.
Reuben
6888
INVALID.
File No. 6888
William Dibreath
Capt R.W. Mar
Act: June 1 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 141
[Arrangement of 1870.]

16.311 North Carolina
William Gibeath of Wilkes in the State of N. Car who was a pr. in the commanded by Captain of the Regt commanded by Col. Lincoln in the N. Car line for 9 mo:
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina at the rate of 30. Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29. day of July '33 and sent to S. G. Patterson Wilkesboro N. Car
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 60 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 15 $75.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M Rice Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 41

Raleigh N.C. Nov: 28 th 1833.
Dear Sir,
I herewith forward you the Pension Certificate of Capt. William Gilreath, together with the affidavit of his son, with a view of your endeavoring to have his allowance increased - The circumstances on which Capt. G. rests his claim are these -
During the revolutionary War, a company of militia (perhaps volunteers) of which Capt. G. was the Lieutenant, and one John Robbins the Captain, was ordered to march to the State of South Carolina against the British - Robbins refused or failed by some means to go - Gilreath assumed the command of the company and marched direct to Purrysburg on the Savannah River in So. Ca., where they joined other North Carolina troops under the command of Genl. Rutherford - The situation of the company being made known to Genl. R., he immediately conferred the appointment of Captain on Gilreath, and commissioned him accordingly - Gilreath remained at that place or near it for six months, during the whole of which time, he performed the duty of a Captain, at the expiration of that period  time he was discharged and returned home - he afterwards served three months more, partly as a Lieutenant & partly as a private, but only claimed for service

as a private - upon reference to the Certificate you will perceive that the allowance ($30.) is the amount he would have been entitled to had the whole service been performed as a private - By referring to the declaration, on file in the Pension Office you will also perceive that the fact of Mr Gilreath having been appointed a Captain by Genl. Rutherford, and duly commissioned as such, & of his having performed the six months services in that capacity, is positively proven by the affidavit of Mr Elijah Ketter, who belonged to the same detachment of troops, though not in the same company - and is also circumstantially proven by Wm. Gilreath Esq. who though not with the troops, was present when they set out upon their march - It is a strange circumstance that full allowances should have been made by the War Department to Genl. Lenoir & Wm Johnson Esq. of our County, who claimed as officers, but neither of whom produced one tittle of evidence of the fact except their own oath, while Captain Gilreath who has sworn to the fact himself, and proven it positively by one witness and circumstantially by another, should be put off with the allowance of a private - I confess that I am totally at a loss to perceive the reason of it -
I know you must be aware of the fact that no two individuals in our Country stand higher for veracity & integrity than Wm & Alex. Gilreath, so that not the slightest doubt can be entertained of the services set forth

in the declaration having been performed — The affidavit of William H Gilreath is forwarded for the purpose of strengthening the testimony already on file if necessary, and as no money has as yet been drawn upon the certificate, it is hoped that you may be able to procure a reexamination of the matter, & that a certificate may be issued for the amount to which Capt Gilreath is really entitled —
you will perceive from the papers of this City that our Legislature has not yet entered upon the consideration of the great and important subjects which are expected to come before it — much business however is in a state of preparation, and the Committees are expected to report on some of the matters referred to them, at an early day — The great Internal Improvement Convention, of which you have no doubt heard much, assembled here on Monday last — it is a highly respectable and talented body; perhaps as much so as any ever convened in the State — they have not yet acted definitely on any thing — It is earnestly hoped that their labours may not be in vain, but that they may lead to beneficial results — time alone will determine — I shall be glad to hear from you if any thing of moment occurs —
In haste very respectfully
your afft Subt.
Wm L Williams
J. O. Patterson

Adm
120 - Capi- 10 - Per - 130 -

War Department Pension Office
Dec r 19 th 1833
Sir:
Upon re-examining the papers of William Gilreath and taking into view the testimony of his son as given in his affidavit I have come to the conclusion that the Department may be justified in increasing his pension, so as to give him Six months pay as Captain and three months as a private -
Previous however, to the issuing of the certificate, the credibility of H. H. Gilreath must be certified to. -
I have therefore enclosed it to you thinking it very possible that your acquaintance with him, might enable you to do it -
I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant - J L Edwards
Hon: Lewis Williams House of Representatives

William Gilchrist N.C. 1881
Sept 1 st
54

Washington Dec 6 th 1833
Sir
I place before you the paper of William Helmseth with the explanatory letter to me of Gen d Samuel H Patterson - I know Gen d Helmseth personally and very well; and can certify to every thing Gen d Patterson has said of him - I hope his claim will be allowed for the rank he served in -
I am your obed Servt.
Lewis Williams
James L Edmonds Esq

Payments to be made at Fayetteville by the Presd. U. S. Br. Bank Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of N. Carolina
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice, in Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 41 by C. Rice
Clerk.

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, William Gibeath of the state of N. Carolina who was a private in the war of the Revolution.
is entitled to receive Thirty — — — — dollars and — — — — cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this 29 th day of July — one thousand eight hundred and thirty- Three
acting John B. B. V. Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.

State of North Carolina } Wilkes County }
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, William H Gilreath, who after being duly sworn according to law, deponeth & saith that, he is the son of Capt William Gilreath of said County who has lately made an application for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832 - that he has lived with his father for the last twenty years, and during that period has had frequent and unrestricted access to the papers of every description in the possession of his said father - and that during the period aforesaid he well recollects to have often seen among the said papers a commission signed by Genl Griffith Rutherford of North Carolina, conferring the appointment of Captain for six months, or during a six months war of duty, upon his said father the aforesaid William Gilreath - that he well recollects remarking to his father at one particular time, after having seen the said Commission frequently among his papers that he might as well throw it away, as it was then worthless, and that there was no probability that it ever would be of any value - that he has no recollection what has become of the said Commission, but is confident that it has been destroyed or mislaid as he has searched diligently among the papers of his father aforesaid, and has been unable to find it -
Sworn to & Subscribed before } me this 28 th day of Oct r 1833. }
W. H. Gilreath
Edw. Jones J.P.

State of North Carolina Wilkes County
I William Martin Clerk of Wilkes County Court, do hereby certify that Edmund Jones Esquire whose signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, is and was at the time of attesting the same, an acting Justice of the Peace for said County, and that all due faith & credit ought to be given to his official acts as such -
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office this 11 th day of November 1833.
Wm Martin Clerk
I do hereby certify that H H Helmuth who has subscribed the within or foregoing affidavit is a respectable citizen of the County of Wilkes and State of North Carolina; and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his statement - attesting my hand. This 21 st day of December 1833 -
Lewis Williams

Jr.
Rev. SWar Section.
Ad...
December 5, 1912.
Mrs. W. H. Yeandle, 312 Capitol Avenue, Atlanta, Ga.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 29" ultimo and received the 2" instant, you are herewith furnished the history of James Southerland, Sur. File No. 21,991. Rev. War, and advised that a careful search of the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fails to show that a claim was ever filed on a account of the services of William Gilbreath of Wilkes County, North Carolina, but such a claim was filed for William Gilbreath , and a history of his services is furnished you herewith.
Very respectfully,
J. C. Klavenport
Commissioner.
86888